Moisture Performance of High-R Wall Systems
- Home Innovation Research Labs, Upper Marlboro, MD (United States)
High-performance homes offer improved comfort, lower utility bills, and assured durability. The next generation of building enclosures is a key step toward achieving high-performance goals through decreasing energy load demand and enabling advanced space-conditioning systems. Yet the adoption of high-R enclosures and particularly high-R walls has been a slow-growing trend because mainstream builders are hesitant to make the transition. In a survey of builders on this topic, one of the challenges identifi ed is an industry-wide concern about the long-term moisture performance of energy-effi cient walls. This study takes a step toward addressing this concern through direct monitoring of the moisture performance of high-R walls in occupied homes in several climate zones. In addition, the robustness of the design and modeling tools for selecting high-R wall solutions is evaluated using the monitored data from the field. The information and knowledge gained through this research will provide an objective basis for decision-making so that builders can implement advanced designs with confidence.
- Research Organization:
- Home Innovation Research Labs, Upper Marlboro, MD (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Building Technologies Office (EE-5B) (Building America)
- OSTI ID:
- 1459497
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/EE-1784; 7920
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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